Enrollment
662
Arizona · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · San Luis, AZ
Arizona Desert Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Arizona Desert Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 18/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 040324001806
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Arizona Desert Elementary School earns 18/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 98% of Arizona schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Arizona schools.
- #5 of 7
- elementary schools in San Luis · Resource Index
- 18
- Resource Index · Lower
- 30.1:1
- large classes for Arizona
- 91.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Arizona Desert Elementary School has class sizes larger than 98% of Arizona schools. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Arizona Desert Elementary School ranks #5 of 7 elementary schools in San Luis, AZ.
School address
District: Gadsden Elementary District (4505) · Arizona
NCES ID 040324001806 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
22.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
30.1:1
vs 17:1 Arizona avg
+77% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
91.9%
vs 48.3% Arizona avg
+90% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Arizona Desert Elementary School compares with Arizona and U.S. medians
What stands out at Arizona Desert Elementary School
Arizona Desert Elementary School is a high-poverty, mid-sized elementary school in San Luis, Arizona, enrolling 662 students.
Class loads run heavy: 30.1:1 is larger than about 98% of Arizona schools and 77% above the 17:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need is high: 91.9% of students qualify for free meals, 90% above the Arizona average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
Enrollment of 662 puts it in the larger third of Arizona schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,064 scored Arizona schools.
Among 103 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Arizona schools statewide, it ranks #78, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is predominantly Hispanic or Latino (99% of enrollment), among the less diverse in the state (diversity index 2/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 552 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 51.2% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Gadsden Elementary District (4505) spends $10,085 per pupil, 23% below the Arizona average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 28.3% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among San Luis's elementary schools, it stands alongside Cesar Chavez Elementary (766 students): Arizona Desert Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (30.1:1 vs 29.5:1).
Gadsden Elementary District (4505) also operates Cesar Chavez Elementary (766 students) and Desert View Elementary (760 students) alongside Arizona Desert Elementary School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Arizona Desert Elementary School compares
Arizona Desert Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Arizona and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arizona | Arizona avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 30.1:1 | ▲ 77% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 91.9% | ▲ 90% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 662 | top 24% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
30.1:1
Leaner classes than 2% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
662
Bigger than 78% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
91.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 90% above the Arizona average of 48.3%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
30.1:1
students per teacher
- 77% above state mean
Top 98% in Arizona - lower ratio than 2% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
51.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$10,085
per pupil, district-wide
- below Arizona avg of $13,145
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.2 FTE
Per 552 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 99.1%
White 0.6%
African American 0.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 99.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 1.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 1.8, Arizona Desert Elementary School is less mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Gadsden Elementary District (4505), which includes Arizona Desert Elementary School.
$10,085
Per student
-23%
vs Arizona
Avg $13,145
-39%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 11.0%
State 60.7%
Federal 28.3%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Arizona Desert Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cesar Chavez Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Desert View Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Southwest Jr. High School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Ed Pastor Elementary 4 | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| San Luis Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Arizona Desert Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 766
- Students per teacher
- 29.5:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
- Enrollment
- 760
- Students per teacher
- 27.1:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 652
- Students per teacher
- 26.1:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 646
- Students per teacher
- 28.1:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- Enrollment
- 620
- Students per teacher
- 32.6:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
Similar elementary schools in San Luis
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Cesar Chavez Elementary
Standard public school
766 students 29.5:1 students per teacher
Desert View Elementary
Standard public school
760 students 27.1:1 students per teacher
Ed Pastor Elementary 4
Standard public school
646 students 28.1:1 students per teacher
Harvest Preparatory Academy San Luis Az
Standard public school
575 students
Rio Colorado Elementary School
Standard public school
523 students 30.8:1 students per teacher
Sun Valley Elementary School
Standard public school
260 students 26:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Arizona, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~662 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~30.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Arizona Desert Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Arizona Desert Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Gadsden Elementary District (4505)'s spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Arizona Desert Elementary School
How many students attend Arizona Desert Elementary School?
Arizona Desert Elementary School has 662 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in San Luis, AZ.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Arizona Desert Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Arizona Desert Elementary School is 30.1:1, which is 77% higher than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 92% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Arizona Desert Elementary School?
91.9% of students at Arizona Desert Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Arizona Desert Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Arizona Desert Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 99.1% of enrollment, in San Luis, AZ.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Arizona Desert Elementary School?
Arizona Desert Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 18/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Arizona Desert Elementary School rank among elementary schools in San Luis?
By Resource Investment Index, Arizona Desert Elementary School ranks #5 of 7 elementary schools in San Luis, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in San Luis on the city page.
Is Arizona Desert Elementary School a good school?
Arizona Desert Elementary School earns 18/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 98% of Arizona schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Arizona schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Gadsden Elementary District (4505)?
Besides Arizona Desert Elementary School, Gadsden Elementary District (4505) also operates Cesar Chavez Elementary (766 students), Desert View Elementary (760 students), and Southwest Jr. High School (652 students). See the Gadsden Elementary District (4505) district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.